Twenty-six Filipinos have departed from Israel under the Philippine government’s voluntary repatriation program, the Philippine Embassy confirmed on Sunday.
According to a post on the embassy’s official social media, the repatriated group included 26 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and one tourist.
They were accompanied by Philippine Ambassador Aileen Mendiola and representatives from the Department of Migrant Workers–Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (DMW-OWWA) during their crossing at the Allenby Border to Jordan.
The embassy facilitated their transportation, transit visas, travel documents, and plane tickets.
Prior to their departure, the group stayed in a Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) shelter, where they received relief packages, free legal assistance, and orientation on reintegration benefits upon returning to the Philippines.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier reported that a second batch of 33 Filipinos is currently being processed for repatriation.
This repatriation program was carried out amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, which began exchanging strikes on June 13 following Israel’s allegations that Iran was nearing nuclear weapons development—a claim Iran denied.